“Ope” is a common exclamation in Minnesota as an expression of a very Midwestern accent. The meme example is “Ope, lemme sneak right past ya there and grab the ranch”.
Not just Minnesota, but a lot of the upper Midwest. Wisconsin, northern Illinois, probably northern Iowa and parts of Michigan, too.
No. It is very specifically pronounced “Ope”, like “hope” without the “h”, and it has it’s own distinct meaning.
The thing I’ll say is closer to “‘up” And I use it more like “oh no! You caught me inconveniencing you. I’m so embarrassed 🫣”
Definitely seems related though…
The more I think about it the more I think it’s actually something I say, just not consciously. And I’m from the Mid-Atlantic; not the Midwest.
Also found this article that hypothesizes a few origins including, yes, a shortening of “oops!”
